July 4, 2025
Chicago White Sox shortstop prospect
Colson Montgomery is batting seventh in his major-league debut on Friday at Coors Field against the hosting Colorado Rockies and right-hander
Antonio Senzatela. Montgomery is a former first-rounder in 2021 and the club's No. 5 prospect, per MLB Pipeline. The 23-year-old got the call-up to the big leagues after hitting only .218 (47-for-216) with 11 home runs, 10 doubles, 30 RBI, 27 runs scored and two steals in 55 games for Triple-A Charlotte. That shouldn't give fantasy managers in single-year leagues much confidence in him, but Montgomery should play regularly in the Windy City in another lost season. The 6-foot-3, 230-pounder hits from the left side and is often compared to
Corey Seager because of his 30-homer potential. However, his plate discipline must improve, especially now that he's in the big leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
July 4, 2025
Texas Rangers outfielder
Evan Carter was reinstated from the bereavement list on Friday and is starting in center field and batting fifth in the series opener at Petco Park against the San Diego Padres and right-hander
Randy Vasquez. Carter has struggled against lefties and has been injury-prone in his short time in the big leagues. However, the 22-year-old former second-rounder in 2020 has been quite attractive in fantasy when he's been hot, which has been the case when he's been on the field in 2025. He comes into Friday's action with a .283/.372/.444 slash line, an .816 OPS, four home runs, 11 RBI, 17 runs and eight stolen bases in 99 at-bats. Carter has gone 26-for-91 (.286) with all four of his home runs and all 11 of his RBI against right-handed pitching this year. You could do much worse than inserting him into your DFS lineups against Vasquez.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
July 4, 2025
The Texas Rangers agreed to a minor-league deal with free-agent first baseman
Rowdy Tellez on Friday, league sources tell The Athletic's Will Sammon. Tellez will stay in the American League West after spending 62 games with the Seattle Mariners this year, where he slashed .208/.249/.434 with a weak .682 OPS, 11 home runs, six doubles, 27 RBI, 20 runs scored and a stolen base in 185 at-bats. Tellez certainly has plenty of power still in his eighth major-league season, but he offers little else and won't be guaranteed to make an impact at the major-league level for the Rangers the rest of this year.
Jake Burger is currently the team's starting first baseman, but if Tellez impresses in the minors, it's possible he could be a platoon option at the cold corner against right-handers in the second half.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Will Sammon
July 4, 2025
Baltimore Orioles right-hander
Grayson Rodriguez (lat) threw a 25-pitch bullpen session on Friday that featured fastballs and breaking balls, according to MLB.com's Jake Rill. Rodriguez said he's now thrown a few bullpens and is at 100% intensity. Still, there's no firm timetable on when he'll be cleared to face live hitters, and he said it will depend on how he's feeling. The 25-year-old has yet to pitch this year due right-elbow inflammation that he dealt with in spring training and a lat strain in late April. It sounds as though he should be able to face live hitters soon, but it remains to be seen. Rodriguez will eventually need to go on what will likely be a lengthy minor-league rehab assignment, too, so his 2025 debut probably won't come until August. It gives Rodriguez little time to make an impact for fantasy managers to close out the year.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Jake Rill
July 4, 2025
Baltimore Orioles catcher
Adley Rutschman (oblique) did some pre-game work on the field on Friday before the game against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park, including running from first to third, according to the Baltimore Banner's Danielle Allentuck. The Orioles don't expect Rutschman to return from the 10-day injured list before the All-Star break, but they are optimistic that the switch-hitting 27-year-old will be back for the start of the second half on July 18. Even though he's had a disappointing first half in 2025, he needs to be stashed in all fantasy formats. The former first overall pick in 2019 out of Oregon State is currently hitting just .227/.319/.372 with a .691 OPS, eight homers, 20 RBI and 31 runs in 242 at-bats. Veteran
Gary Sanchez has become the O's primary catcher with Rutschman,
Maverick Handley and
Chadwick Tromp all on the IL.
--Keith HernandezSource: Baltimore Banner - Danielle Allentuck
July 4, 2025
Toronto Blue Jays outfielder
Daulton Varsho (hamstring) ran the bases on Thursday and felt good. He will repeat it in the coming days before starting a minor-league rehab assignment, according to Sportsnet's Arden Zwelling. Varsho could begin his rehab assignment this weekend and rejoin the big-league squad next week before the All-Star break, barring a setback. The 29-year-old has been out since May 31 with a hamstring injury, but the team's starting center fielder is on the cusp of a return. Varsho got a late start in 2025 because of offseason shoulder surgery and won't be doing fantasy managers any help in the batting average department, but he did hit eight home runs and drive in 20 in 92 at-bats before injuring his hamstring. The Blue Jays have been mixing and matching in center field of late with
Myles Straw and
Nathan Lukes.
--Keith HernandezSource: Sportsnet.ca - Arden Zwelling
July
4,
2025
The
Toronto
Blue
Jays
transferred
outfielder/designated
hitter
Anthony
Santander
(shoulder)
to
the
60-day
injured
list
on
Friday,
according
to
Sportsnet's
Ben
Nicholson-Smith.
Right-handed
pitching
prospect
Lazaro
Estrada
was
also
called
up,
read more...
July
4,
2025
Toronto
Blue
Jays
catcher
Alejandro
Kirk
will
head
to
the
bench
for
the
start
of
a
series
on
Friday
against
the
visiting
Los
Angeles
Angels
at
the
Rogers
Centre.
Tyler
Heinemanread more...
July 4, 2025
Toronto Blue Jays second baseman
Andres Gimenez (ankle) is back at second base and batting leadoff for Friday's series opener against the visiting Los Angeles Angels and right-hander
Kyle Hendricks. Gimenez left Wednesday's win over the New York Yankees early with a minor ankle injury and was held out of the series finale on Thursday, but he'll return to the field atop the batting order for Friday's series opener. Although the 26-year-old doesn't feature much power at the plate, he'll be in play as a DFS sleeper at the second base position out of the leadoff spot against a soft-tossing pitcher. He has a solo home run in two career at-bats against Hendricks. The Venezuelan infielder is hitting a weak .216/.299/.322 with a .621 OPS, only five home runs, 22 RBI, 26 runs scored and 10 steals in 208 at-bats on the year.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
July 4, 2025
Toronto Blue Jays first baseman
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (foot) is not in the team's starting lineup for Friday's series opener against the visiting Los Angeles Angels after fouling a ball off his foot in Thursday's victory over the New York Yankees, according to Sportsnet's Shi Dividi. It doesn't sound like a very serious injury, so the Blue Jays are most likely exercising an abundance of caution for one of the best hitters in the league. Fantasy managers will want to check back on Saturday to see if the 26-year-old is back in action for Game 2 of the series at the Rogers Centre.
Will Wagner will make the start at first on Friday and will hit eighth against Angels right-hander
Kyle Hendricks. Wagner is still searching for his first home run of the season and has gone 14-for-69 (.203) on the year with two RBI, seven runs scored and one stolen base.
--Keith HernandezSource: Sportsnet.ca - Shi Davidi
July 4, 2025
Toronto Blue Jays shortstop
Bo Bichette (knee) is back at shortstop and is hitting third in the batting order for Friday's series opener against the visiting Los Angeles Angels and right-hander
Kyle Hendricks at the Rogers Centre. Bichette stepped on a ball during pre-game batting practice on Monday and tweaked his knee, causing him to miss the entire four-game sweep of the division-rival New York Yankees. The 27-year-old is back for the weekend series against the Halos, though, and should be returned to all starting lineups for the first-place Blue Jays. It was an injury-plagued and disappointing 2024 campaign for Bichette, but he's bounced back in 2025, hitting .272 (97-for-357) with 11 home runs, 49 RBI, 39 runs scored and four stolen bases. Bichette has never faced the soft-tossing Hendricks in his career.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
July 4, 2025
San Francisco Giants manager Bob Melvin said on Thursday that catcher
Tom Murphy (back) is still rehabbing and that there is no timetable for his return, according to MLB.com. Murphy has yet to play in 2025 and has only played 13 games for the Gigantes so far since joining the club in 2024. The 34-year-old veteran backstop is currently on the 60-day injured list with a mid-back disc herniation, although he's expected to return at some point in the second half. Murphy missed the majority of last season with a sprained MCL in his left knee. When he's healthy and with the big-league club, Murphy will merely serve as the backup to
Patrick Bailey, leaving him minimal fantasy appeal for his power. He did hit 18 home runs with the Seattle Mariners, but that was way back in 2019.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
July 4, 2025
Washington Nationals right-handed reliever
Derek Law (forearm) resumed a minor-league rehab assignment on Wednesday with Triple-A Rochester and threw a scoreless inning with a strikeout and a walk, according to MASN's Mark Zuckerman. Law reported a reoccurrence of arm soreness last week but is now pitching in games again and could rejoin the big-league bullpen before the All-Star break. The 34-year-old has not pitched for the Nationals yet in 2025 but has already made four appearances on the farm. In his first year in D.C. in 2024, Law was a key reliever for the Nats, going 7-4 with a 2.60 ERA (3.32 FIP), a 1.18 WHIP, one save, a career-high 76 strikeouts and 24 walks in 90 innings out of the bullpen. When he's ready to return, he'll likely be eased back in for the second half of the season.
--Keith HernandezSource: MASN Sports - Mark Zuckerman
July 4, 2025
New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone called right-handed pitching prospect
Cam Schlittler "an exciting pitcher" and said he has "certainly put himself in the mix" to join the team's starting rotation after right-hander
Clarke Schmidt (forearm) landed on the 15-day injured list on Friday. Schlittler is the club's No. 10 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, and has gone 6-6 with a 2.82 ERA and 1.21 WHIP with 99 strikeouts and 26 walks in 76 2/3 innings over 15 outings (14 starts) this year with Double-A Somerset and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. It could come down to the 24-year-old or
Allan Winans for a spot start in Schmidt's place next week before the All-Star break. Schlittler Schlittler features an upper-90s fastball and backs it up with two effective breaking pitches in a sweeping slider and curveball. It might be a short stay in the big if Schilittler comes up.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Bryan Hoch
July 4, 2025
Baltimore Orioles infielder
Jordan Westburg (finger) is making his return to the starting lineup on the Fourth of July on Friday against the hosting Atlanta Braves and right-hander
Spencer Strider, playing third base and batting second in the order. Westburg isn't going to be 100 percent, but he'll return for the O's for the first time since aggravating his left index finger injury last Friday. It's been an injury-plagued year for the 26-year-old, and although he does have seven home runs in 136 at-bats, he's hit just .228 with 14 home runs and 20 runs scored. The former first-rounder in 2020 out of Mississippi State has never faced Strider, a pitcher that is starting to finally hit his stride after a slow start early in the year. When healthy, Westburg is Baltimore's regular third baseman, pushing
Ramon Urias back to a utility role.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
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